Brexit: MPs Back May’s Revised Plan, Give Her Two Weeks

By Staff, Agencies

British lawmakers granted Prime Minister Theresa May a two-week reprieve, postponing their threatened rebellion aimed at blocking a no-deal Brexit after she agreed to a possible delay to United Kingdom’s departure from the EU.

Lawmakers Wednesday approved a three-step plan that would give May more time to renegotiate her deal with the European Union.

If May's bill fails, parliamentarians will vote on March 13 and 14 to decide whether to leave the EU without any deal on March 29 or postpone it to a later date.

Lawmakers overwhelmingly backed the proposal by 520 votes to 20 amendments put forward by former Labor Minister Yvette Cooper to tie May to the time frame.

MPs also voted against the opposition Labor Party's alternative Brexit plan. The amendment - which envisaged the UK joining a customs union with the EU - was defeated by 323 votes to 240. Following the defeat, the Labor announced it would now support a new public vote on Brexit, marking the first time that one of its main parties has backed giving voters a chance to change their minds since Britain voted in 2016 to leave the EU

After months of saying that Britain must leave the EU on time on March 29, May opened up the possibility on Tuesday of a limited extension to the exit date.

That was enough to avert a showdown in parliament on Wednesday with lawmakers -- including ministers in her own government, who had said they were prepared to join a rebellion this week to avert an exit with no agreement.